This could well be the last time that the ‘best’ team
doesn’t win the world cup. I say ‘best’ because
New Zealand (The All Blacks) have undoubtedly been one of the form
teams for many months, even years – beating all comers all over
the world. This weekend’s rugby has shown that coaching, skills,
fitness and form is perhaps secondary to an intelligent game plan
and most importantly mental toughness. Whilst New Zealand is the best
team in the world based on their recent track record, mentally they
couldn’t put it together. In the post match comments, Richie
McCaw speaks about loosing composure. Re-watching the game I was incredibly
impressed by the skills of the All Blacks to get to 20 odd phases,
under that kind of pressure – yet there was little to no creativity,
and a lot of the passes were inaccurate, forcing the catcher to break
his stride, upsetting the rhythm. It was clear they were a talented
and skilled side, yet on the day – they were a shadow of what
we know the All Blacks are capable of.

Reading articles about the All Blacks
preparation, especially about Daren Shand the Manager role in the
team, it was obvious how professional they were, how much attention
to detail they had – in all facets, all except mental skills
development. Their Sports Psychologist focus was on team spirit, unity
– growing the team, however I didn’t read anywhere any
details on targeted one-on-one work to develop mental skills, principle
amongst them mental toughness.

This is a real challenge for Sports
Psychologists, as they need buy-in from the coach to get that kind
of time with the players, and how do you get buy-in from the players
themselves? Also what are the core skills of mental toughness, and
how do you measure them, and then develop them?

The giant strides currently happening
around the world and even in South Africa on mental skills development,
means that in four years time – every major team worth their
salt will have prepared their players physically and mentally, it
will be a contest of skills primarily and mental toughness will play
a secondary role. The opposite of what we saw in the first 2 quarter
finals of the World Cup.

World Sport is changing, 30 years
ago Gary Player was derided for gyming to improve his golf form, and
now it is commonplace. Supplements, diet, scientific training programmes
and even eye skills development are all designed to give that extra
5%, however what is clear is that your ability to perform under extreme
pressure is the greatest leverage point in player development –
whatever the level of yours skills is, whatever your ability –
it comes down to how much can you utilise your talent, when it really
counts. During the first Quarter Final, Stirling Mortlock (Australia)
and Jonny Wilkinson (England) both had poor days at the office in
terms of kicking specifically, in a windy Marseille stadium –
yet they are amongst the top kickers in the world. On the day, the
occasion and pressure influenced their ability to fully use their
prodigious talents and skills.

If you consider all the hours of
training, preparation and honing of skills that players do, and then
consider how much time is spent on mental training, development, preparation
– it is clear that there is a gross imbalance, especially considering
how much influence your mental skills have on your performance. Just
ask Richie McCaw, or Sirtling Mortlock. For many, working on ‘mental
stuff’ is strange, weird and uncomfortable, however surely it
isn’t as strange, weird and uncomfortable as exiting a World
Cup that you should have won at the Quarter Final Stages.